Doctor's Orders

I rested for a while under Merlin's watch. Occasionally Edger would come out to lecture me about something, but Merlin always sent him back to the room. We never knew when a servant would come in and did not want evil rumors to be spread about us. I eventually got so bored I started reading merlin's book of herbs, non of it sticking of course, yet it was slightly more interesting than staring at the stone ceiling. After I got about twenty pages into the book a knock came upon Merlin's door.

"Come in." Merlin chimed.

Aurelius came striding in, a smile spreading across his face as he glanced my way. "Well, look who finally woke up." Aurelius came over to me and sate near my feet. "I thought for sure you would never awake. Things were just starting to settle down." He smirked at me and I felt a slight blush. "Here, I got this for you." Aurelius handed me a brown packed wrapped in string. I ripped away and the paper and found a red cloak. "Your purple one was kind of ruined, so I got you this red one, it goes better with my kingdom anyway." He winked.

I smiled at him. "Thank you, I am very grateful."

"Aurelius..." Merlin's tone was a bit worrisome. "How is your wound, you haven't gone and opened it again, have you?" Merlin walked to Aurelius, pointing at the spot where Aurelius had been injured that night I treated him. "How many times must I patch you up for the same thing? Surely your training can wait a day or two."Merlin prepared a paste for Aurelius while Aurelius removed his dark blue tunic.

"You know I cannot, Merlin. The Saxon's could be heading for us right now, I cannot let myself weaken." The cut on Aurelius' shoulder had opened and was oozing slightly. I also noticed that he had a cut going from his right eyebrow to his cheek bone, practically healed from the looks of it.

Merlin began to rub medicine into Aurelius' wound, causing Aurelius to wince a little. "Well, as your doctor I refuse to let you train anymore today or tomorrow." Merlin's voice was harsh and his stare solemn. "It's risky enough going to war with perfect health, going with a festering wound is not the smartest idea."

"Merlin..." Aurelius had a groan to his voice. "What am I to do while my men train then? Surely you cannot expect me to entertain my brother's betrothed for hours. You know I do not care for wedding talk."

"Wedding talk?" I asked.

Aurelius looked at me, tiredness in his eyes. "Uther is to be married to lady Igraine. I cannot express how many painfully hokey dinner conversations and lunch conversations I've had to suffer through." He shook his head, as if it was the worst thing in the world. "I am happy for them, but I simply wish I did not have to talk about how happy I must be for them all the time."

Merlin sighed. "Yes, I find your feelings very agreeable. Why don't you take Fia for a walk while I treat my other patients. She should start getting use to walking around before she becomes sloth-like."